2016 Legislative Session: Bills We Are Following

(Updated March 23 at 9:36 am)

• SB 92 – Would create a universal Education Savings Accounts. Five states have authorized ESAs. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/SB/92
• HB 848 – Blue Star Family Scholarship Program would provide scholarships for children of military service members to attend a private  school. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/848
• HB 865 – Would create a tuition tax credit scholarship program for low-income students (No action). http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/155896.pdf
• SB 395 – Creates the Junior GI bill to provide scholarships for children of military service members to attend a private school. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SB/395
• HB 35 – Would increase the cap on the tuition tax credit scholarship program. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/35
• SB 312 – Creates full HOPE Scholarships for all technical colleges and 14 of 29 universities. (Passed Senate 51-4) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SB/312

Health Care

• SB 265 – Would allow direct care contracts between doctors and patients. Thirteen states have enacted similar legislation. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/SB/265 / Also HB 882
• HB 755 – FY 2017 Budget – Line item to provide $500,000 to Georgia Charitable Care Network eliminated by House but retained in the final approved budget
• HB 35 – Would create a “Right to Try” for terminally ill patients to access drugs that are in late-stage FDA trials. Twenty-one states have enacted similar legislation. (Passed House 173-0, Passed Senate 55-0) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/34
• HB 775 – Outlaws online, inexpensive eye exams by doctors licensed in Georgia, allowing patients to get a physician-issued prescription for glasses or contacts online within 24 hours, for a fraction of the cost of a normal office visit. (Passed House 155-0, Passed Senate 47-3) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/775
• HB 684 – Would allow dental hygienists broader scope of practice. Eight states have enacted similar legislation. (No action) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/684
• SR 1056 – Creates a Senate Study Committee on premium assistance as an alternative to Medicaid expansion. (Passed Senate) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SR/1056

• HB 952 – Would address issues with professional licensing brought about by a U.S. Supreme Court decision. This policy statement was moved from the code to the preamble in the version that was passed: “It is the policy of the State of Georgia to increase economic opportunities for all of its citizens by promoting competition and thereby encouraging innovation and job growth. It is therefore also the policy of the State of Georgia to displace competition only when necessary to protect consumers from present, significant, and substantiated harms that threaten public health and safety.” (Passed House 145-3, Passed Senate 56-0) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/952

Tax Reform

• HB 238 – Would reduce the personal income tax to a flat 5.4 percent rate and eliminate the corporate net worth tax. (Passed Senate Finance Committee unanimously and passed Senate 35-17) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/238
• SR 756 Would lower the personal income tax rate by up to 0.2 percent if revenues and rainy day fund meet certain targets. (Passed Senate 39-17) http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SR/756